Torkham border remains closed on second day

LANDIKOTAL: The Pak-Afghan border at Torkham remained closed on the second day on Sunday that caused losses amounting to millions of rupees to traders from both countries.

Talking to the media, a Customs clearing agent, Qari Nazim Gul Shinwari, said that due to the closure of Torkham border, they sent around 14 trucks loaded with fish to Kharlachi border in the Kurram tribal district.

He said when the trucks reached Kharlachi border point, they were refused entry into Afghanistan.

The clearing agent said each truck spent thousands of rupees on diesel from Torkham to Kharlachi.

He said fish worth around Rs40 million would go rotten if the trucks were not allowed to cross the border.

Qari Nazim Gul said the truck drivers were waiting for permission at Kharlachi border crossing in the extreme cold weather.

He said the other day Customs officials had asked trucks loaded with fresh fruit and vegetables to return to Peshawar to prevent losses.

The clearing agent said a number of trucks unloaded the goods in various cities and sold the fruit and vegetables at low rates.

Qari Nazim Gul said that traders and truckers faced huge losses due to the closure of the border. He urged Pakistan and Afghanistan governments to resolve the border issue through talks.

It may be mentioned here that Pakistan has imposed the condition of valid visa and passport for the truck drivers and their helpers to cross the border.

Sources in Torkham said that more than 2,000 loaded and unloaded trucks had been stranded on both sides of the border.